Strapping on my hiking shoes - Going the distance

I got the travel bug when I was a sophomore in college. I took a trip to Seattle to attend a meteorology conference. Not long after, I spent several days in Dallas, then spent a week in Chicago, before taking a family trip to Las Vegas.

Junior year of college was my first time seeing Florida for a vacation. Just after graduation in 2019, I left the country for the first time. Spending two weeks in the United Kingdom exploring the Lake District, the Cotswolds, Oxford, and London. A few months later in October, I boarded another flight to the U.K. for a quick week trip. I was only four months into my job at KY3. There I spent a special weekend seeing the University of Reading.

Then the pandemic hit and canceled all my travel plans for 2020. I had a third trip planned to visit the U.K. for the University of Reading’s graduation ceremonies. Canceled.

In March, with so many places shut down, I was sick of being home and ready to explore.

Having lived in Springfield for nearly a year, and have about a dozen places bookmarked on my Ozarks Bucket List, I decided to start tackling them. Maybe this post will help you plan your next adventure?

First, I explored some of the trails surrounding Springfield metro, from Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield, to Frisco Highline Trail, and getting lost running around Lake Springfield and the Botanical Center. I've hiked just about every trail near town.

In July, I started branching out for my trips. Going the distance.

Blue Spring - Don’t get lost on the drive

First up, was Blue Spring located within the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Cell service is spotty, and the directions are misleading. While the spring is only about a two-hour drive from Springfield, It took me over three hours to find it because of bad directions. I accidentally drove to the main headquarters of the park. After speaking with park rangers I learned the spring was another 45 minutes away. Ugh.

The spring is the 8th largest in Missouri and has the deepest blue color. It is called the "Spring of the Summer Sky" by Native Americans and is one of the most famous springs on the Current River. The spring is 310 feet deep. If you placed the Statue of Liberty in the spring, her torch would sit five feet below the water.

Despite the hassle of getting to the spring, and a very bumpy gravel road, the view did not disappoint. Add the spring to your bucket list, but if you get the chance, also explore some of the other scenic sites that are a part of Ozarks National Scenic Riverways. I will venture back soon, and when I do, I plan to see Alley Spring and Mill, Welch Spring and Hospital, and Devils Well.

My tip - Spend the full day there and plan better than I did. Learn from my mistake. If you take a trip to the spring, route yourself to the Powder Mill. From the mill parking lot, it's a short hike to the spring.

Busiek State Forest - getting your feet wet

The first time I explored Busiek was in October when the leaves were starting to change color. When you reached the top of the hill, the colorful trees made for picturesque scenery. Temperatures were mild. Perfect hiking weather.

Busiek is just over a 20-minute drive from Springfield, located in Highlandville, MO.

I hiked the yellow trail. You will cross the river twice while hiking. If the water is high enough on the river, prepare to get your feet wet or be unable to cross at all. You’ll spot lots of wildlife, anything from birds and deer to armadillos.

The hike itself is just over four miles. There is a steep incline as you walk up to the lookout point at the top. The climb is worth it. On my way down, I found the Carter Cemetery with 29 gravestones dating back to 1891. While the cemetery is inactive, it is maintained by the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Ha Ha Tonka - A good calf burner

Located just off the Niangua River near Camdenton, MO, Ha Ha Tonka state park is 3,700 square miles of picturesque scenery. I visited Ha Ha Tonka on a chilly October day. 

First up, we explored the castle, which is what Ha Ha Tonka is most famous for. We found the ruins at the tip of the bluffs overlooking the Niangua River. The castle will take you back in time with its European-inspired architecture.

The real hike began following the castle exploration. We took a trail that brought us to Natural Bridge. It’s a 70-foot wide rocky bridge with a path underneath carved out by water. Past the bridge, we hiked to Ha Ha Tonka’s blue spring. The spring was created by the collapse of a gorge with a narrow channel of water flowing between cliffs. Getting down to the water is worth the calorie burn. The spring is the 12th largest in Missouri and flows into the lake of the Ozarks.

We took the blue path past the spring and discovered an island. The most impressive feature on the island was a pair of balancing rocks.

A connecting path brought us up another steep incline to a parking lot. After a quick bite to eat, we continued to the old post office tower and, from there, traveled to the water tower. The final step of the day took us around the Quarry Trail near the castle ruins. In total, we hiked just over nine miles.

Recent adventures

These last couple of months I’ve been busy driving back and forth from Springfield to St. Louis and Springfield to Oklahoma. While I have had many exciting adventures in Oklahoma, I haven't had the opportunity recently to continue exploring the Ozarks.

My most recent Ozark adventure took me to Roaring River State Park. I didn’t have my fishing pole with me, but the catch seemed good on the day I went.

I hiked the Devil’s Kitchen Trail that takes you past rocky bluffs and up steep grades with inclines around 10%. Per my Apple watch, the trail is about two miles long.

The caves and carved-out rocks make for great exploration. Pluto loved running into the caves and climbing onto the rocks. Nearly lost the pup a few times.

My favorite feature of the hike was the bluffs. According to the legend, the rocks once were a carved-out room used as a hideout during the Civil War. The roof of the room has now collapsed. When I tried to climb into the pit below the rocks, a vulture nearly attacked me while flying out. I worried the bird would carry Pluto off with him.

Past the bluffs, you'll come across that 10% incline. By the time I reached the top of the hill, I was short of breath. The rest of the hike is all downhill and took me past more impressive rock faces, small caves, and a natural spring.

I explored the hatchery next where a blue spring is found at the head of the river surrounded by cliffs. I climbed to the top of the cliffs and viewed the blue spring from above. You can see the trout swimming lazily and get a view of the rolling hills in the distance.

Where to next?

So far, my adventures have taken me around the Missouri Ozarks. My next stop is seeing the sites in Arkansas. Whitaker Point, Arkansas Grand Canyon, Devils Honeycomb Trail, and Sandstone Castle are all on my list.

Say hi if you cross me on the trails!